Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Its Origin," a poem attributed to Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux and translated by Anna Seward, the essence of poetic form, specifically the sonnet, is put under scrutiny. Boileau, renowned for his discerning criticism and commitment to artistic discipline, introduces Apollo, the Greek god of music and poetry, as a figure disenchanted by the lack of genuine inspiration in the poetic offerings before him. This serves as a backdrop against which the true artistic form-embodied by the "rigorous Sonnet"-emerges.

The poem starts with a vivid portrayal of Apollo "at his crowded altars, tired" because of the uninspired and mediocre poetry offered by "votaries" who are "untaught, and uninspir'd." This situation evokes not just the failure of these amateur poets but also implicates a broader cultural devaluation of true artistry. Apollo's subsequent action, striking the lyre, symbolizes the divine intervention needed to re-establish true poetic form and value. His action results in the sonnet form acquiring "New powers, and complicate," suggesting that genuine artistry involves not just inspiration but rigorous structure.

The phrase "Then first was known / The rigorous Sonnet, to be framed alone / By duteous bards, or by just taste admir'd" elevates the sonnet as a poetic form demanding both skill and dedication. The sonnet becomes a litmus test for genuine talent, setting apart true poets from mere pretenders. Boileau makes it clear that the sonnet isn't just a form; it's a manifestation of "just taste" and artistry, something only "duteous bards" can genuinely construct and appreciate.

Boileau's Apollo then propels the sonnet into the world as a "test of skill," serving as a guard against undisciplined, free-flowing verses that take the name of the sonnet but lack its essence. "For rhymes that flow / Regardless of thy rules, their destin'd guide, / Yet take thy name, ah! let the boasters know," Apollo declares. This line forms a critique against those who disregard form in the name of creativity, thereby diluting the intrinsic value of the art.

The poem closes with Apollo's declaration that only those who adhere to the "jealous laws" of the sonnet form will receive the "wreaths" of poetic glory. The word "jealous" encapsulates the essence of the form's exclusivity, its unwillingness to share its name with anything less than perfection. The phrase "no wreaths on rebel verse bestow" underscores the idea that true artistry doesn't reside in rebellion against form, but rather in mastering it.

Overall, "Its Origin" serves as an ode to the disciplined artistry of poetic form, arguing that it's not mere inspiration, but skill honed within the constraints of form, that creates enduring art. Boileau's depiction of Apollo's divine dissatisfaction and subsequent action is more than allegory; it's a call to poets to respect the sanctity of form and the labor of true craftsmanship in their quest for immortality through verse.

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